On Wednesday morning, the Philadelphia 76ers shipped forward K.J. Martin and two second-round picks (MIL ’27, DAL ’31) to Detroit.
In return, they received… nothing?
The trade was a mere salary dump for the 76ers, as they now sit $1.4 million below the luxury-tax line and $8.2 million below the first apron. In their defense, they can now sign a player from the buyout market who previously earned more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
A name that has become a focus of the buyout market is ex-Philadelphia 76er Ben Simmons.
A Ben Simmons-Philadelphia homecoming is within the realm of possibility. After all, Luka Doncic just got traded for Anthony Davis. Murmurs are coming from the locker room that he is unhappy, and he is known very well in Philly for walking out on tough situations.
Rose-Tinted Glasses
Simmons was recently on The Young Man and The Three podcast, where he mentioned how he did not appreciate playing in Philadelphia as much as he should.
However, he had high praise for Philly: “Just having that experience in Philadelphia was amazing. I’m so grateful to have played there.”
While it is clear Simmons would welcome a return with open arms, he is only a fraction of the player Philly remembers. He has dealt with several back injuries and missed considerable chunks of time over the past four seasons. In 33 games this year, Simmons is averaging 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists over 25.0 minutes per game.
The on-paper stats are ugly, but his on-court demeanor might be worse. Simmons is no longer the fluid athlete he used to be. He almost looks in pain when doing anything except sitting on the bench.
Back to Reality: Ben Simmons-Sixers Reunion is Unlikely
The 76ers already have two dynamic wings who would limit Simmons’ potential.
Kelly Oubre Jr. has stepped up tremendously in Joel Embiid’s absence. Their other wing, Guerschon Yabusele, who had not played in the NBA since 2019, has been an amazing addition to the team. The Frenchman is averaging 11.1 points on top of 40% shooting from beyond the arc. His consistent shooting, tenacity, and love for the Philadelphia Eagles have made him a fan favorite in Philly.
https://twitter.com/sixers_galaxy/status/1883659167917109669
While a Ben Simmons-Sixers reunion would be a bittersweet idea, the NBA’s former Fresh Prince may need to find a new suitor elsewhere. The move does not make sense for either party and would feel more like getting back with your toxic ex after forgetting everything bad about the relationship.
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